Singapore is the chameleon of Southeast Asia, its colourful history as a trading settlement still influencing all facets of life, including the local food. The vibrant mix of multiple cultures—Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Malay—all overlap in the kitchen in delicious ways. Neighbourhood markets all have a food court of sorts, filled with rows of “hawker stalls,” little kiosks that produce their own particular specialty. The traditional foods sold here have laid the foundations for a new cuisine movement called Mod Sin (for Modern Singaporean), a twist on Grandma’s home cooking. Here are a few of the best-known, most iconic Singaporean dishes to try.

THINGS TO DO: IN SINGAPORE

Chee Cheong Fun. Begin your day two or three of these tasty rice noodle rolls, perfect for breakfasting on the go. These are steamed and served alongside soy, hoisin and/or sesame sauces, with roasted sesame seeds on top.

Roti John. Created by Malay who lived in Singapore during colonial times, this excellent street food is essentially an omelette sandwich of minced meat, onions, eggs and chili sauce on a baguette.

HOW-TO: ORDER COFFEE IN SINGAPORE

Carrot Cake. Paradoxically, this is neither carrot nor cake, but also an omelette-style savoury food made with diced turnip and pickled radish. Rice flour and white radish (the “carrot”) are mixed and steamed, cut into squares and then fried with garlic and eggs. This is more delicious than it sounds.

Chicken Rice. Half the population of Singapore sits down to a dish of chicken rice every day for lunch—and they will line up for the best stalls, so keep an eye out for lineups and join one.

Chili Crab. Spicy and delicious, a plastic-bib kind of food, chili crab is great to share with a table of fellow travellers and giant bottles of beer on an outdoor patio.

WHERE TO STAY: IN SINGAPORE

Laksa. A big hug in a bowl, this comforting noodle soup is a Peranakan dish made of wheat noodles or rice vermicelli done up with chicken, shrimp or fish in a spicy curry coconut broth.

Durian Puffs. People hate the unusual smell of this fruit, a combination of rotting onions and sulphur. The puffs are crispy choux pastries stuffed with durian-flavoured whipped cream.

 Pandan Cake. Of Malay origin, the pandan cake is a green chiffon confection, similar to an angle food cake with the hole in the middle. The pandan plant is similar in taste to vanilla.

TASTE TO TRY: RIBS FOR BREAKFAST

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Stratford, the Bard’s stomping grounds, is a vibrant and busy little overnight side trip you can easily make, about a two-hour train ride northwest of London. And like a lot of famous out-of-the-way destinations, there is a tawdry, touristy side thriving happily alongside the peaceful, countrified atmosphere of this city of 25,000—riverboats, statues, swans and all.

• Head to the house. A visit to Shakespeare’s actual birthplace is a must and you absolutely have to go inside. Some of the flooring on the main floor is original—Shakespeare actually walked on the same floor. (I truly can’t remember whether this was the kitchen or a different room.) It’s so tiny it takes just a few minutes to see. But you need to hang out in the back yard, because actors regularly perform one of his plays right on the premises. You can even write in with a request to join the resident actors.

• Book well in advance. A night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or the Swan Theatre will be absolutely magical. It won’t matter what play you’re seeing, it will be a superb experience that you will dine out on for years afterward.

UK:DRIVING TIPS

• Hang with the actors. After your night at the theatre, pop up the street to the dual-named Black Swan/Dirty Duck pub for a pint, and wait for the actors to wander in later to bask in the groupie glory. The critics also congregate here after curtain calls to bitch. Take time to look at the signed black and white headshots and see who you recognize. This is the only pub in England to have a licence under two names.

• Go in comfort. Stratford has hotels at different price-points, but you want to stay at either the 400-year-old Church Street Townhouse or the 45-room The Arden Hotel, both central and within walking distance of the theatres.

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